For the record, I typically avoid casinos. The gambling thing seems exploitative of those who can least afford to gamble and the noise, sounds and blinking lights of the slot machines jar my senses, plus I find the lack of windows oppressive. But worst of all is the SMOKE! Casinos are one of the few places left where people can legally burn tobacco in the faces of others indoors.

Yet in spite of all that, and in contrast to my usual behavior, yesterday I ventured inside of one. My husband and I were passing by the Hollywood Casino on our way home from somewhere else, when he mentioned to me that he had a credit to spend at this one, that was not transferable to anywhere else and he had noticed that they had some ladies handbags in their gift shop...and wondered if I might need a new purse. (And I DID.)

For a gift shop it was incredibly sparse. The major items they had, were souvenir glasses, a few polo shirts and ladies handbags - lots of them. I assumed that since it was a casino, the purses were probably all leather...but I started looking at them anyway, and now I am so glad that I did! About half the purses there had tags on them that declared them, "VEGAN." The clerk told me that this was because many of their customers are looking for products containing fewer toxic compounds. (Leather of course fails miserably in this regard.) People in Casinos are looking for non-toxic goods...REALLY? (I myself was looking for a breathing mask hooked up to an oxygen tank!) Anyway it was so exciting I bought myself TWO new purses. I felt like a kid at the carnival redeeming my tickets for prizes!